"Prepare to be obliterated!" The Goblin Chieftain roared, its voice vibrating the very air as it summoned the catastrophic power of its ultimate attack. Dark Cataclysm—a spell of unimaginable destruction.
Noah's heart hammered in his chest, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. Every instinct screamed at him to run, but he knew there was no escaping this. His only choice was to stand and fight. The dark energy swirling around the chieftain's raised club crackled, a storm of raw magic threatening to engulf everything.
He couldn't let that happen.
"Echo of Oblivion!" Noah shouted, the words flowing from his lips with the confidence he had yet to feel in his bones. His mana surged, weaving a shield of reflective power before him, shimmering with an otherworldly light. The chieftain's dark sphere of destruction collided with the barrier, the clash sending a shockwave through the clearing. For a moment, everything seemed frozen in time.
Then came the explosion.
The force of it was so powerful that Noah was thrown back, his body skidding across the ground like a ragdoll. The clearing was illuminated in an eerie, blinding glow, the air thick with smoke and the lingering scent of scorched earth.
The chieftain's eyes widened in disbelief as his own dark magic reflected back toward him. He opened his mouth to shout, but his voice was drowned out by the deafening roar of his own attack. "No! This cannot be—"
The Dark Cataclysm consumed him. The magic erupted in a violent wave, the blast tearing through the goblin's body and sending him crashing to the ground in a final, thunderous impact.
Noah's chest heaved as he pushed himself to his knees, pain shooting through his limbs. His heart pounded in his ears, and every inch of his body screamed in protest. He'd done it. Against all odds, he had emerged victorious.
The goblin lay motionless in the wreckage of the battle, its body twitching weakly as the dark energy dissipated. Noah could barely catch his breath, the adrenaline rush slowly ebbing away. The victory felt surreal—he was alive, and the threat before him was gone.
Noah took a moment to gather himself, wiping the sweat from his brow. His muscles ached from the strain, but his resolve was firm. This was just one fight. One victory.
A mix of exhaustion and quiet triumph filled him as he glanced down at the fallen chieftain, his voice steady despite the fatigue. "This is what happens when you underestimate your opponent."
The chieftain groaned, its body shifting slightly. "You may have won this time, but I will return... You cannot defeat the darkness." It spat weakly, but Noah didn't flinch. The creature's voice cracked, and then it fell silent—its body stilled.
A small smile tugged at Noah's lips as he turned away. "I'll be ready for you," he muttered under his breath, feeling the weight of the words more than he had ever anticipated.
The dungeon around him seemed to tremble in acknowledgment of the end of the battle. Noah knew the fight was over, but the danger wasn't yet past. He had to leave before the place collapsed around him.
He stepped through the portal, the world shifting around him in a blur of lights and shadows. As the portal closed behind him, he felt a rush of accomplishment flood through him. He had faced an overwhelming challenge and survived. But deep down, he knew this was just the beginning.
When Noah emerged from the portal, the sight that greeted him was overwhelming. He stood in a vast hall surrounded by students and teachers, all of them staring at him. Some faces were full of shock, others were filled with admiration. A large screen above them flickered, showing the results of the dungeon trials, and Noah quickly realized what it meant. They must have seen my fight with the boss...
"Is he... the last one to finish?" one of the students whispered.
Noah couldn't help but smile to himself. I guess I did pretty well.
"Noah! Over here!" Scarlett's voice rang out across the room. He turned to see her waving at him, a warm smile lighting up her face. She stood with a small group of students, all watching him curiously.
He made his way toward her, feeling the weight of everyone's gaze on him. "How did you do?" he asked, trying to keep his tone casual.
Scarlett's smile faltered slightly, and she looked down. "I wasn't able to defeat the boss," she admitted, her voice tinged with frustration. "It was... really strong."
Noah gave her an understanding nod. "Yeah, I almost lost myself," he said, letting out a quiet chuckle.
"But you were incredible," she said, her eyes brightening. "Apart from you, only the top four students were able to defeat the boss. I'm sure you'll be in the top ten for sure!"
"I hope so," Noah replied, feeling a sense of nervous excitement stirring inside him. This victory had to mean something.
Just then, Ms. Elsa's voice echoed through the hall, cutting through the chatter. "Alright, students. Your practical assessment is over. You may all go and rest. The results will be announced tomorrow."
Noah gave Scarlett a nod before heading toward the exit. His body was exhausted, but his mind was already spinning with thoughts of what came next. Tomorrow would reveal the results, and he would find out how far he'd really come.
Later that evening, after a warm bath and a much-needed meal, Noah found himself lying on his bed, his mind still racing from the day's events. The weight of the battle was finally starting to sink in, and his body felt like it was made of lead. But he couldn't let himself rest too long. He had rewards to check.
"System, show my basic stats," he murmured, pulling up the interface.
[Basic Stats]
• Strength: D-
• Agility: D-
• Endurance: D-
• Intelligence: C+
• Charm: S+
• Mana: D-
"System, show me the skill I got as a reward," he said, excitement bubbling in his chest.
[Skill Name: Dark Cataclysm (A)]
Type: Offensive Magic
Cooldown: 120 seconds
Mana Cost: 150 Mana
Description: Unleash a devastating sphere of dark energy that explodes upon impact, dealing massive area-of-effect damage to all enemies within a 20-meter radius. The explosion inflicts both direct damage and lingering dark energy damage over time, causing enemies to suffer from a debuff that reduces their defense for a short duration.
Attack Power:
Initial Damage: 300% of the caster's magic attack power
Damage Over Time: 50% of the initial damage per second for 5 seconds
Defense Reduction: Reduces enemy defense by 30% for 10 seconds
Skill Effects:
Area of Effect: Affects all enemies within a 20-meter radius of the impact point.
Debuff: Enemies hit by Dark Cataclysm will experience a reduction in their defense, making them more vulnerable to subsequent attacks.
Noah stared at the screen, his jaw slightly slack. "This skill is too OP... If not for this skill, I would've been done for back there."
He grinned to himself, feeling a sense of power surge through him. "It's a powerful skill... definitely one to save as a trump card for the real challenges ahead."
With his new skill in hand and his mind set on the road ahead, Noah closed his eyes, knowing that tomorrow would bring new revelations. But for tonight, he allowed himself to rest, the thrill of his victory still warm in his chest.